HARTON BOROUGH LOANS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9011, 26 November 1907, Page 4

HARTON BOROUGH LOANS.

SIR—If you will allow mo I should like to make a few remarks in reply to the Mayor’s letter of 32nd instant. lam sorry to he in opposition to him, but we cannot all see eye to eye. It seems to me that the principle of always borrowing to repair streets or any other work is bad, but leaving this out of the question, we are asked to sanction loans of £ISOO and £4OOO respectively. Now, the estimate for part of the work proposed to be done is £4 per chain, and this in face of the fact that the same kind of work recently | cost £8 12s 6d per chain; so it seems . quite evident if those loans arc carried we shall have to borrow £3OOO , or £3OOO more, otherwise leave a ! considerable amount of the proposed work unfinished. The Mayor says these loans must stand together, and that it would be unfair that ratepayers outside Broadway should contribute towards its loan and get nothing in return. Just so; and tins is my contention also. Why were these loans not amalgamated It seems to me Broadway is to got everything at the expense of the whole Borough. Last year a mud scraper and water cart wore provided for it. Lately nearly £4OO has been spent on kerbing and channelling, quite unnecessary, I admit. Now we are asked to grant anything up to £3500 for repairs, etc., and shortly another £SOO for a Are brigade station, which, as his Worship points out, is no benefit whatever to those living on the outskirts. The Mayor thinks wo can do without an iucreaso of rates. I very much doubt it, as at the present time, without this increased burden, there is very little, if any, money for repairs. A short time since my neighbour and myself applied to have a culvert attended to; the reply was there were no funds available. I also notice the seats in the Bark arc being allowed to go to wreck, presumably for _ the same cause (unless, perhaps, this is part of Or. Lyon’s economical scheme). Next year we are to bo asked for a loan for water and drainage. Now, this, to my mind, should have been placed first. What is the use of doing up the roads and footpaths this year to tear thorn all up again next, to say nothing of the extra cost involved. I submit, with all respect fj the Mayor, that we should reject both the proposals before us, as I do not think the Borough is yet in a position to stand another loan of, say, £BOOO for roads and footpaths, and I do not think the time is ripe for constructing those in the back streets, as proposed. Broadway lias had one loan to construct its roads aud footpaths, for which wm are still paying, and if another is required a special rating area should bo formed, aud not become a charge on the whole Borough. When the settlers outside the town cut their properties up they have to make their own roads and footpaths, aud why should they be called upon to contribute to those in the iuner area? I venture to say that the petilibu recently presented to the Council by them received very scant courtesy at the 1 muds of their representatives.—l am, etc., W. W. HEDGES.